custom cut plywood art panels
When I first started painting with oils, I bought a smattering of substrates to test. I painted on stretched canvas and linen, canvas and linen panels, oil paper, and gesso board. Over the years, I learned that I didn’t like the bounce and fragility of stretched canvas and linen. I didn’t like the texture of […]
moving fast & moving slow
I intended to share more on the blog over the last couple of weeks, but my days have been busy! On top of a full plate at work, we’ve had to fit car shopping into the schedule. (If you missed why, you can read about it HERE.) I wish I could say car shopping was […]
Country Living Fair, here I come!
It is not lost on me how cool it is that I get to wake up each workday and decide what I want to do. Some of that is dictated by deadlines and commitments to clients, but since 2008, I’ve been able to jump into working on my house, refinishing a piece of furniture, doing […]
Federal & Black | A gorgeous shop in Middleburg, VA
Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to drive down to the quaint town in Northern Virginia’s horse country for a book signing. I spent a beautiful late-summer afternoon at Federal & Black in historic Middleburg. First of all, everyone who came out to support me, the book, the shop, and Middleburg small businesses was awesome! […]
little things that go right
Calvin had an appointment last Tuesday, and I debated whether I should go with him. If you can believe it, my youngest son turned 18 this summer, which means he can go to routine appointments on his own. At the last minute, and in a roundabout way, he asked if I would go with him. […]
swapping slipcovers for fall
One of my favorite decorating books for over twenty years is New Country Style by Country Home. I remember pouring over one particular room again and again that showed how dramatically a room’s look can change by swapping out slipcovers. The room was completely transformed, and I always wanted to replicate that in my own home. […]
Recent Blog Posts
why you need to buy books & upcoming new releases
The launch of my new book, Move Slow & Make Things, is just over two weeks away! Â I received my author’s copies last week. Â Six heavy mystery boxes arrived on the small stoop by our kitchen door, leaving me stumped until I saw they were from my publisher. Â I had already received an advance copy, but seeing stacks of my new book was thrilling. Â After all of the thinking, writing, editing, photographing, and designing, it’s about to be released into
New Prints & FrameTV Art
First of all, thank you so much to everyone who shopped my original art sale yesterday. Â All of the original paintings are sold out! Â There are still some hand-painted color charts available, as well as blank color charts for those who want to make their own. Â You can find those HERE. All of the paintings sold in yesterday’s art sale are now available as prints from 5 x 7″ to 16 x 20″. Â You can shop the newly released
Stories | the unreasonable quest for potatoes
I’m assuming most of my readers have easy access to a local grocery store, and if it’s like mine, you can pretty much buy anything you want there year-round. Â You might have to hit a few places to find a specific, rare ingredient, but you can probably find almost everything on your list. Â When shopping for groceries in Izhevsk, Russia, in 1995, you didn’t make a shopping list. Â You set out, saw what was available, and then decided what you
Original Art Sale Preview | August 13, 2026
The next original art sale is Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 1:00 pm Eastern (New York) or noon for presale subscribers. Â If you subscribe HERE, you can shop the sale at noon before it opens to everyone else. Â (This isn’t a blog subscription. Â You will only receive emails with presale information for this and future original art sales. Â And it’s free!) In this original art sale, I have pieces ranging from hand-painted color charts on antique linen for $75 to
Stories | grocery shopping, cooking, and eating in Russia
I need to preface this post by saying that I have always been a picky eater. Â I wasn’t a picky eater in that I wouldn’t try new things or that I didn’t like vegetables. Â I actually loved a lot of vegetables that most kids won’t touch. Â I could eat an entire artichoke by myself at eight. Â But I’m picky about texture, and I’m not a big fan of meat. Â (If you’ve followed my blog for several years, you may
Slipcovered recliner ottoman
Last week, I shared about the hand-me-down recliner I slipcovered. Â You can read about that HERE. Â A couple of weeks after I finished sewing the slipcover, I made a cover for the matching ottoman. Â I’ve shared here many times over the years that I don’t particularly enjoy sewing, but I continue to do it because I enjoy the results. Â I enjoy the freedom it gives me to accept free furniture or pick up cheap pieces with good bones but dated
four things | eighty-two
It was a beautiful morning for late July, a gift really, so I decided to spend some time outside in the garden to do some weeding and trimming. Â It’s the time of year when I usually get tired of the maintenance, and it’s too hot to enjoy being outside, but this week has been a treat. Â I know we’ll still have hot, sticky days in August, but they are easier to tolerate when we have some cooler weather sprinkled in.
Stories | Our Apartment in Izhevsk, Russia
All of our fellow travelers from the US and Canada stayed with Russian families for our summer in Izhevsk. Â Since I was under 18 and my dad had his own apartment, I would be staying with him. Â My dad rented this apartment for a few years, so he had his own place to stay when he was working in Izhevsk. Â You might think it was outfitted with American luxuries and amenities, but it was bare-bones and typical of a working-class
slipcovered recliner | take two
I shared a couple of weeks ago that my parents gave us an old recliner that was much better than the Facebook Marketplace recliner we’d been using. Â I was hesitant to replace it simply because I spent so much time making a slipcover for it, but it wasn’t the best recliner ever. Â There was a reason it was listed for $50. Â The recliner my parents gave us is very comfortable, but it’s also bulky. Â The padded back and wider arms
Move Slow & Make Things | Giveaway No. 4
The launch of my new book,  Move Slow & Make Things, is just a few weeks away!  September 1 feels like it’s far on the horizon, but it really is right around the corner. I’m excited to share our next giveaway to celebrate the book’s launch, showcase some of its themes, and highlight another artisan who shares her creative gifts with the world. If you haven’t already, you can preorder the book HERE.  Don’t forget to sign up to receive your
stories | 17-year-old me travels 6,000 miles
If you missed the first installment about my trip to Russia, you can find it HERE. Our first flight was from Orlando, Florida, to Miami. Â It was a short flight and a small plane that had me blaring music in my headphones, closing my eyes, and gripping the armrests, pretending I was anywhere else. Â I was relieved when we landed and had some time on the ground before we boarded our first international flight. Â We would first stop in
antique portrait in the kitchen
Remember the portrait I found at the Lucketts Spring Market earlier this year? Â The one I saw a couple of years ago at the fall market, thought about, wished I had bought it, and then came face to face with it again? Â The woman in the blue dress with the dog on her lap? Â Yep, this one… Well, I realized I never photographed where I hung it in the house! Â I used to share home updates, even small adjustments, almost
four things | eighty-one
The weather has turned hot again, which is expected since we’re halfway through July and in the thick of summer. Â Hot, humid weather means I skip my morning walk, don’t stay on top of the weeds in the garden beds quite as well, and generally stay inside except in the morning and evening. Â I’ve already been looking ahead to appointments, deadlines, and things that are just around the corner, and it reminds me that each season is short-lived. Â In just
June Gardening Notes
In my May gardening notes, I shared that I put some compost around my Annabelle hydrangeas in the hopes they would do better this year. Â I have used Hollytone fertilizer on them in previous years, but that didn’t seem to be enough, and the compost has, so far, seemed to be the ticket to healthier, more prolific Annabelles. Â Here is how they looked last July. Â They were yellowing, losing leaves, and looked generally unhappy. And here is how they look
stories | 17-year-old me goes to Russia
I’ve actually considered sharing some of my personal stories here on the blog before. Â When I was organizing our house in Minnesota from tip to toe, I came across so many bits and pieces that brought stories to mind. Â I considered writing a Summer Stories series about some of my childhood summers. Â But, I didn’t. Â I was still in the season of my business when my blog felt like something that needed to stay exactly as it was at all
four things | eighty
I hope all of my American friends had a nice July 4th! Â We kept the day very low-key, but it was nice to have a long, slow weekend, and I enjoyed watching some of the festivities in clips online. Â I have spent years in the past going to see fireworks displays, but I find I don’t really want to sit in traffic and fight the crowds on a hot summer night. Â I’d rather stay at home and listen to the
telling stories
I’ve been telling stories here on this blog since 2009, but they’ve mostly been stories about furniture, about my business, my work, and my creative endeavors. Â About refinishing floors as a novice, about my first magazine feature, about the exciting firsts for my business that unfolded as I shared online. Â As this blog continues to morph and I continue to evolve as an artist and a person, I have decided to start sharing some of my personal stories here. These
Move Slow & Make Things | Giveaway No. 3
Welcome to giveaway number three leading up to the September 1 launch of my new book, Move Slow & Make Things. Â This giveaway is in collaboration with Erin Callahan of Garden & Guild. Â I’ve been following Erin on Instagram and have purchased several heirloom garden tools and classic gardening books from her since learning about her small shop. Â Since I reference many gardening stories, analogies, and parallels in the book, it seemed fitting to have a giveaway centered around gardening
four things | seventy nine
Oh my word, it is hot as the blazes this week. Â I often joke that I was made for Norway. (Although I have never been there, and the ancestry information I’ve found so far has all led back to England.) Â I certainly wasn’t made for anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line. Â I’m fair-skinned, have a sun allergy, turn beet red in the heat, and feel nauseous if I can’t cool off. Â So, I’m getting my gardening and pool chores done
Peg & Awl | Small Business Spotlight
There are times when I have fleeting thoughts of quitting the online space. Â I think about how much time is sucked into the rabbit hole of Instagram or YouTube when I could be doing something more meaningful and productive… Â But then I think about the beautiful people I’ve met, dear friends I have made, and endless encouragement and inspiration I have found from like-minded creatives and all-around awesome people. Â I know I would miss that community, and leaving social media
I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.
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From the very first coat of paint to custom cabinetry, Marian has been slowly transforming her 1970s split-level into a home filled with charm, character, and creative vision. Explore room-by-room updates, clever DIYs, and the stories woven into each renovation project. It’s a work in progress—and that’s part of the beauty.
In the Studio
Artistic Endeavors
Move Slow & Make Things x An Acre of Land Giveaway
I was meandering through Instagram one day and came across An Acre of Land. I was immediately drawn to the photography, the styling, and the layers of feminine, generously gathered skirts. I pressed the follow button. For months, maybe even years, I would admire the clothes, which are just my style. It was the appearance of a cyanometer, though, which made me realize the creative minds behind An Acre of Land were my people. A cyanometer is a scientific/art instrument
Move Slow & Make Things | Book Launch Day!
I’ve been counting down the days to September 1, 2026, and now it’s finally here. Move Slow & Make Things is now officially on the market! I cannot express how excited I am that the book is finally available, and I am eagerly awaiting feedback from those who read it. My hope is the book will be an encouragement, a pep talk, and that anyone who reads it will feel pulled to lean into curiosity, to gain a fresh perspective,
Why I take pictures at art museums
When I went to the Louvre in the fall of 2018, it was my first time visiting a museum as an adult who truly appreciated art. Of course, Mom and I sought out the Mona Lisa. It’s just something you need to do if you’re a tourist at the Louvre. At the time, you didn’t have to wait in a line to access it. We simply followed the signs and knew we made it to the right room when we
what I’ve been up to lately…
If you’ve been a regular here on this blog for a long time, you may have noticed I’m not as consistent in posting this year as I have been for the previous 15 years. (Something that’s sort of funny is I wrote this post on Monday, got busy with other things, and realized Tuesday I never hit publish!) Posting less wasn’t something I planned, but as this year has unfolded, I find myself having to drop “write blog post” off
Move Slow & Make Things Giveaway No. 6
The launch of my new book,  Move Slow & Make Things, is one week away! This is when the nerves start to kick in. I’ve done everything I can to make a beautiful book, and now it’s in the hands of the readers. Of course, I have dreams for this book. I hope it does well and it speaks to the people who need it most. If you haven’t already, you can preorder the book HERE.  Don’t forget to sign
Move Slow & Make Things Giveaway No. 5
The launch of my new book,  Move Slow & Make Things, is less than two weeks away! It’s like the countdown to Christmas. I know what the present is, but I can’t wait to share it with everyone else. This book was a labor of love and one of my favorite projects to date. As I’ve shared before, I am so proud of this book, and I hope you love it, too. If you haven’t already, you can preorder the
Seasonal
Fall
setting a proper table & creating a thanksgiving centerpiece | HGTV articles
Those who have been reading my blog for a while are familiar with me mentioning writing articles for HGTV. I have been writing for them now for almost 10 years and have written over 200 articles and tutorials. It’s an amazing part of my job that came out of simply sharing my work online. An editor reached out to me to write a few articles for her and coached me through the process. I still write for that same editor
collecting & pressing leaves & flowers
Over the past few days, I have become acutely aware of autumn’s waning beauty and how it will all soon be covered in snow. We’ve had some unusually warm weather in our neck of the woods, so I’ve done a bit of foraging on my walks. I don’t always know what I’ll do with the bits that I gather, but I don’t worry about that too much. I just carry a small bag and gather the things that attract my
simple fall simmer pot
This week, the temps started to drop and we only recently had our first frost here in Minnesota. It’s actually come pretty late this year and we haven’t even seen a flake of snow yet! But, I am ready for fires, slippers, hot chocolate, and for the house to smell like fall. So, yesterday, I made up a simple fall simmer pot with what I had on hand. How to Make a Fall Simmer Pot I started by filling a
How to Make a Fall Wreath
Disclosure: This post on how to make a fall wreath is sponsored by  As always, all words and opinions are honest and my own. This post also contains affiliate links. Let’s talk about some fall crafting! I have a confession…I have had the same artificial boxwood wreath hanging on my door for the past year and a half. I didn’t even swap it out for a Christmas wreath last year! I haven’t gone bit with pumpkins or anything else,
creamy chicken & wild rice soup recipe
Soups are definitely my specialty! I love that I can make a whole bunch at one time that will last for quick & tasty lunches and dinners throughout the week. I love they are healthy & hearty, even when you add a little bit of cream. Soups are just a win all-around for me. One of my favorite soups is creamy chicken & wild rice and this is the recipe I’ve used and tweaked over the years… I don’t even
potato corn soup with dill
I am an unashamed soup lover. I don’t know why anyone would be ashamed of that, but I definitely am not. I think my love of soup started when we went to a family conference in Switzerland and they served the most wonderful pureed soups. I had no idea what was in them, but I loved every bowl. I wish I had the recipes for those! Anyway, I also love that I can make one big pot of soup over
at home
All Things Home
Slipcovered recliner ottoman
Last week, I shared about the hand-me-down recliner I slipcovered. Â You can read about that HERE. Â A couple of weeks after I finished sewing the slipcover, I made a cover for the matching ottoman. Â I’ve shared here many times over the years that I don’t particularly enjoy sewing, but I continue to do it because I enjoy the results. Â I enjoy the freedom it gives me to accept free furniture or pick up cheap pieces with good bones but dated
slipcovered recliner | take two
I shared a couple of weeks ago that my parents gave us an old recliner that was much better than the Facebook Marketplace recliner we’d been using. Â I was hesitant to replace it simply because I spent so much time making a slipcover for it, but it wasn’t the best recliner ever. Â There was a reason it was listed for $50. Â The recliner my parents gave us is very comfortable, but it’s also bulky. Â The padded back and wider arms
antique portrait in the kitchen
Remember the portrait I found at the Lucketts Spring Market earlier this year? Â The one I saw a couple of years ago at the fall market, thought about, wished I had bought it, and then came face to face with it again? Â The woman in the blue dress with the dog on her lap? Â Yep, this one… Well, I realized I never photographed where I hung it in the house! Â I used to share home updates, even small adjustments, almost
June Gardening Notes
In my May gardening notes, I shared that I put some compost around my Annabelle hydrangeas in the hopes they would do better this year. Â I have used Hollytone fertilizer on them in previous years, but that didn’t seem to be enough, and the compost has, so far, seemed to be the ticket to healthier, more prolific Annabelles. Â Here is how they looked last July. Â They were yellowing, losing leaves, and looked generally unhappy. And here is how they look
Move Slow & Make Things | Giveaway No. 3
Welcome to giveaway number three leading up to the September 1 launch of my new book, Move Slow & Make Things. Â This giveaway is in collaboration with Erin Callahan of Garden & Guild. Â I’ve been following Erin on Instagram and have purchased several heirloom garden tools and classic gardening books from her since learning about her small shop. Â Since I reference many gardening stories, analogies, and parallels in the book, it seemed fitting to have a giveaway centered around gardening
dusting off the sewing machines…
It’s been a minute since I had my sewing machines out. Â I had to reacquaint myself with winding the bobbins and getting the needles properly threaded, but I slowly figured it out. Â The funny thing is that I needed to wear reading glasses over my contacts to thread the needles this time. Â As an aside, I started writing this blog when I was in my early thirties and both of my boys were in diapers. Â Now, they are in college,
Everyday Moments
A Slice of Life
Why I take pictures at art museums
When I went to the Louvre in the fall of 2018, it was my first time visiting a museum as an adult who truly appreciated art. Of course, Mom and I sought out the Mona Lisa. It’s just something you need to do if you’re a tourist at the Louvre. At the time, you didn’t have to wait in a line to access it. We simply followed the signs and knew we made it to the right room when we
Stories | the time I was lost in Russia
It’s hard to remember how we functioned before smartphones; before we had a map, a full phone directory, Google Translate, and all the information available by tapping a question into an internet browser in our pocket. Well, this story happened before that time. I was supposed to meet my friend Misha that morning. I don’t remember why we were meeting. It actually wasn’t to find potatoes or other rare summer produce this time. I also don’t recall why I was
why you need to buy books & upcoming new releases
The launch of my new book, Move Slow & Make Things, is just over two weeks away! Â I received my author’s copies last week. Â Six heavy mystery boxes arrived on the small stoop by our kitchen door, leaving me stumped until I saw they were from my publisher. Â I had already received an advance copy, but seeing stacks of my new book was thrilling. Â After all of the thinking, writing, editing, photographing, and designing, it’s about to be released into
Stories | the unreasonable quest for potatoes
I’m assuming most of my readers have easy access to a local grocery store, and if it’s like mine, you can pretty much buy anything you want there year-round. Â You might have to hit a few places to find a specific, rare ingredient, but you can probably find almost everything on your list. Â When shopping for groceries in Izhevsk, Russia, in 1995, you didn’t make a shopping list. Â You set out, saw what was available, and then decided what you
Stories | grocery shopping, cooking, and eating in Russia
I need to preface this post by saying that I have always been a picky eater. Â I wasn’t a picky eater in that I wouldn’t try new things or that I didn’t like vegetables. Â I actually loved a lot of vegetables that most kids won’t touch. Â I could eat an entire artichoke by myself at eight. Â But I’m picky about texture, and I’m not a big fan of meat. Â (If you’ve followed my blog for several years, you may
four things | eighty-two
It was a beautiful morning for late July, a gift really, so I decided to spend some time outside in the garden to do some weeding and trimming. Â It’s the time of year when I usually get tired of the maintenance, and it’s too hot to enjoy being outside, but this week has been a treat. Â I know we’ll still have hot, sticky days in August, but they are easier to tolerate when we have some cooler weather sprinkled in.